Title

After Chardin

Artist

Lucian Freud

About

This etching is based on an oil painting by Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin entitled 'The young schoolmistress' c.1735-6.

Freud selected this work by Chardin after he had been invited by the National Gallery London to respond to a painting in the permanent collection with the resulting work to be included, together with that of 23 other contemporary artists, in the exhibition, 'Encounters: New Art from Old' at the National Gallery London in 2000.

Freud was inspired to make two painted versions and one etched interpretation of Chardin. The etching (like the painted versions) and their 18th-century prototype shows the tender relationship between a child and his young schoolmistress, studying sheets of paper on a bureau top, though Freud has omitted the needle-like pointer from the schoolmistress's hand. Freud also draws attention to the girl's ear. He believes that Chardin painted here the most beautiful ear in art.